#how many new ones has he picked up this ipl again

[somesunnyda-y]

Of course

[srbachchan]

DAY 4417

Jalsa, Mumbai                     Apr 10/11,  2020                   Fri/Sat 3:13 AM

Birthday - EF  Lyudmila Zueva .. Saturday, April 11 .. be safe on this birthday be in precaution .. be indoors and be in care .. love from the Ef ..

Conversation in the times of today speak only of the ‘19′ .. its spread, its numbers , its locations and hot spots , its lockdowns and preventive measures .. how many where, how many there .. it is a resounding looped magnetic tape played over and over again and again .. and the respite in its bearing remains an unspoken whisper .. the spread has volume .. the care and recovery a whimper !

Its the way the system functions .. its the way the mind functions .. its the norm, its the deal, its the nature of life .. in the times of today ..

The resort to TV , resounds with all the past popular .. sports , run India winning Cricket games .. past IPL competitions .. astonishing Soccer , WWF and the lot .. and the entertainment of bygone films .. 

News .. ?

Mostly avoided on insistence by the ladies of the house .. their plea - too depressing .. 

I would agree .. 

But without it the information suffers .. and all that matters comes on the smart phone or the computer .. the smart phone would have to be the invention of the times .. it is running everything in the World today .. whatever would we have done without it .. 

I could comment on that .. but todays generation not ..

The finger dialling within rounded hole numbers was the luxury of the times .. that and the Frig .. it was ‘the’ possession if you had that line land phone in the house .. difficult to afford for us at the time , and a privilege we never enjoyed for years .. 

When you never had it, it was manual communication .. a bicycle ride to tell or inform or get from the market .. and in an emergency a brisk run to the neighbours - at times pretty distant , for, not all had the facility ..

When Babuji was in Cambridge for his PhD the phone was unheard of .. it was the letters that commanded information and connect .. on the one occasion I remember when we were able to hear his voice after a gap of 2 years, he wrote a letter to say which day and time he would be able to afford a call from England, .. letters took almost 7 to 10 days , if you were lucky, to get to their addressed destination .. and the call was to a friends phone, that lived a good half hour bicycle ride away .. the anticipation of the wait .. the excitement of a phone call coming through .. the moment of its connect .. the nervous quivers .. the emotion .. and within a few minutes .. over .. 

.. this generation will never understand those times .. just as our generation was never able to understand the times before us .. 

.. Babuji used to narrate the story of an elder of the times of his generation .. his grandfather perhaps or granduncle , and how when he encountered the first cannon ball that landed near him during the time of a battle in the past , he picked up his sword and threw it in the well , saying “ when the enemy can battle you from a distance, what use will the sword be “ .. 

.. the million uses and facilities available on todays smart phone virtually controls our lives and existence ..

.. and in the times of yesterday , when the phone rang the entire household would run from different parts of the house to pick up that receiver .. such was the importance and excitement of its ownership .. 

.. now you control what comes in .. whether it should come in .. who will be permitted to come in .. and a zillion other factors that go along in the acquisition of the marvel ..

.. a brand company wishes for me to write 250 words on the smart phone and how it has gained its prominence , particularly in the times of the ‘19′ .. 

If thou hath any words to essay in the 250 words do write in and unburden me with the effort of putting in my own thoughts , please do write in .. 

My love and be safe ..❤️🙏

Amitabh Bachchan

[themorningstreet]

The Clash of Champions!

RCB found a new star last evening as Harshal’s performance made his side win against MI.

A five-wicket haul and then scoring the winning runs off the last ball against the defending champions, one needs great courage to outshine in the debut match, and the way Harshal Patel played last night was one of those many innings that aren’t easily forgettable. RCB had their luck and hard work written in their performance in last night’s game since the time of toss, after choosing heads for the toss Virat Kohli went with the idea of balling first. Their first target came as the wicket of the defending champions’ captain Rohit Sharma who unfortunately got run out by the RCB captain. Then came to bat SKY who added some crucial runs in a much-needed partnership with Chris Lynn. Once the wickets started falling of MI, RCB made it tough for the opponents to go for a big total. The death overs bowled by Harshal in the first innings made a new star born last evening, as he summed up his four overs with the figures of 5/27 and helping his team to get MI out of 159/9.

When RCB came to bat, they had their planning on, but after Virat’s wicket it all started falling out and that’s when the Mr.3600 ABD’s show started. Just when MI thought they are coming back in the game as Bumrah the ace baller of MI picked RCB’s captain’s wicket, it was ABD’s quick knock of 48 runs in 27 balls that made RCB close to cross the winning line. But the twists were still awaiting in the inaugural match of the 14th edition of Indian Premier League with the runout of ABD, in the last over where the match was going with run a ball and were hopes of seeing a super over in the very first match, it was again the star of first innings Harshal Patel who made RCB won their first match of the season by 2 wickets against the mighty Mumbai Indians.

‘Counter of keeper-captains

The newly appointed keeper captain of DC against the Marvel of Chennai Thala.

The 23 years old Rishabh Pant, recently appointed as the captain of Delhi Capitals to take charge today in place of injured Shreyas Iyer in the second match of IPL edition 14 tonight against the three-time champions Chennai Super Kings. Before starting the match tonight, CSK would like to forget how the ended last year but surely will remember learning about the mistakes not to be made again. On the other hand, DC would be wanting to carry on with the same note as the finished last year. But the teams had an unexpected journey in the last season of IPL, where CSK ended their run at the bottom and for the first time in many years, they were unable to qualify for the playoffs, whereas, DC went into their median finals played again MI, but weren’t able to hold that trophy.  

With having hulk on the DC side, the team would surely be depending on their all-rounder and last seasons’ best performer Marcus Stoinis who is without any doubt is an ace player for them.  And CSK would be wanting to take advantage of their experience.

As Rishabh Pant has always seen MS Dhoni as his idol, it would be a treat to watch how Rishabh will plan against the three-time titleholders, and how he will be bringing his team together to get through tough games. From MS Dhoni’s side, Thala’s fans would be waiting eagerly to see him on the ground with his captain's cool nature. Wankhede would be turning DC Blue and CSK Yellow this evening, as the night would be waiting for the winner.  

[expatimes]

Maidan Market: Indian sporting goods market fighting for survival

Kolkata, India – A fresh consignment of sports replica jerseys arrives at a stall in Maidan Market, one of the largest sporting goods bazaars in India that is located in the heart of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata.

Mohammed Nadim, who has been working at the stall for more than 23 years, pulls out a plastic stool from underneath a rack stashed with low-priced football jerseys and begins examining the consignment.

“Uhssee, theek-e ache (80, the count is fine),” he mutters in a mix of Hindi and Bangla before handing the load-bearer the counterpart of a signed receipt.

The shipment consists of 10 replica jerseys of each of the eight teams taking part in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the biggest Twenty20 domestic league in the world.

The 2021 edition of the IPL begins next month and Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is one of the six host cities.

Nadim says the stall would typically order 10 times that number ahead of the tournament every year.

That was in pre-pandemic times. Now, he adds, it is unlikely his store would order a refill in the lead-up to this year’s competition.

“Due to the pandemic, we still have stock left over from last year,” Nadim told Al Jazeera.

“We are replenishing them minimally given there’s been a slight increase in business across the market of late. But stocking up in bulk right now is beyond our means because the virus has brutally slashed our earnings.”

Maidan Market houses 449 stalls – 80 percent of which only sell sports items

Set up in 1954 for cloth merchants and artisans who migrated to the western part of divided Bengal following the partition of India in 1947, the market, officially christened Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy Market, gradually evolved into an arterial sports-merchandise hub in the country.

Housing 449 stalls – 80 percent of which only sell sports items – the bazaar, nestled a stone’s throw away from the iconic Eden Gardens cricket stadium in the vicinity of the Maidan, has been witness to several epochal shifts integral to Kolkata’s identity.

The market ships most of its produce – raw materials and finished products – from northern Indian cities and the months-long suspension of trains hampered supply and demand.

As stall owners remained indoors, a further misfortune struck the market.

Against the backdrop of the pandemic and the exodus of migrant workers the lockdown triggered, Kolkata also bore the brunt of the catastrophic Cyclone Amphan, which made landfall on the coastlines of eastern India and Bangladesh last May.

“So bad was the waterlogging in this area after the storm that the local police let us open our shops for a day so we could save our goods,” recounts Sumojit Pradhan, who runs his father’s store.

“Cricket bats and shoes worth over 50,000 rupees ($690) were damaged in our shop alone,” Pradhan told Al Jazeera.

Kolkata’s booming mall culture had slowly been eating into Maidan Market’s business

Last November, Nadim bemoaned how the pandemic had brought the market to its knees.

“So terrible was the nosedive in our sales that I’m drowning in debt,” Nadim said at the time.

“I’ve pulled my kids drop out of school and, if someone in the family falls ill, I don’t have enough money to be able to afford a doctor.”

A year on from the lockdown, more patrons are frequenting the market and it has returned to its usual 9.30am-8.30pm business hours, ditching the six-hour window it stuck to for several months after reopening.

“I’ve been printing around 120 jerseys a day since January,” said Sunny, who runs a vinyl-printing desk at Maidan Market.

“It’s been about 40 per cent of the daily orders I used to get before the pandemic. Things could be better or worse in the coming months. For now, I’m just relieved I’m earning an income again,” Sunny told Al Jazeera.

Kolkata’s booming mall culture had slowly been eating into Maidan Market’s business.

With the pandemic prompting a dip in spending on non-essential products, and an accelerated shift to online shopping, a lack of a digital presence is also hurting the stall owners.

“The loss incurred in the past 12 months … we may not be able to recover from it even in five years’ time,” Sheikh Nazimuddin, joint secretary of the stallholders’ association at the market, told Al Jazeera.

“And such is the nature of in-demand items like cricket bats, helmets and guards, customers hardly prefer buying them online. That’s why this market never previously felt the need to have a digital presence.”

For the first two months after the market reopened last June, sellers with stockpiles of fitness equipment made good money while the others struggled to keep their heads above water

Since the onset of the coronavirus outbreak, Pradhan, 24, has been among a few traders at Maidan Market who have funnelled time and effort into either creating or increasing the online presence of their brick-and-mortar businesses.

From having their stores listed on Google, to displaying select samples of in-store stock on Facebook and Instagram pages and taking orders on WhatsApp, the pandemic, Pradhan admits, has forced a “major rethink” of customer engagement approaches.

The changes in consumer patterns notwithstanding, several long-time loyalists of Maidan Market believe the enduring charms of the bazaar will help the sellers weather the ongoing adversity.

“Maidan Market is a great leveller. Players of every social and financial standing gravitate towards that place,” said Jhulan Goswami, Indian women’s team cricketer who learned her craft at Kolkata’s Vivekananda Park.

“The affordability, variety, and year-round availability of its products are its USPs. E-commerce sites are no match when it comes to these attributes,” Goswami told Al Jazeera.

Manoj Tiwary, the Bengal and Indian men’s cricketer who has also played in the IPL, agrees.

“Ever since I visited the market for the first time as a 15-year-old, I’ve witnessed first-hand the kinship every young athlete who comes here develops with the market, starting with the buying of equipment,” Tiwary, now 35, told Al Jazeera.

“That relationship is then nurtured by the goodwill of the shopkeepers who go to great lengths to help you pick what’s best for you.”

Most stall owners are hoping for a smooth IPL in April and May to lift sales

For the first two months after the market reopened last June, sellers with stockpiles of fitness equipment made good money while the others struggled to keep their heads above water.

“With gyms shut and outdoor activities prohibited, dumbbells, resistance bands and weight plates sold like hot cakes,” Pradhan recalled.

“Flag vendors, printers, jerseys sellers and bat dealers were starved of an income.”

For sellers like the Islam brothers, Rafique and Nurul, who operate the oldest trophy store in the market, hardly any business came by until December.

“Offices, academies and schools were closed. Who would buy trophies or medals if no sports events take place?” said Rafique, 64, who was one among the first stallholders to test positive for COVID-19 after the reopening of the market.

“It was only after a few local clubs began organising small sports and social events, say, to felicitate front-line workers, did we notice a slight uptick in sales in December and January,” he said.

With most sports coaching academies across the city and local tournaments under the Cricket Association of Bengal having resumed by late February, several old-timers and first-time buyers have since been making their way to Maidan Market.

“The ongoing vaccination drive has lifted the common man’s spirits,” said Somenath Das, while helping his 14-year-old daughter try on a new pair of cricket shoes.

“We took whatever safety precautions we could and came to this market. Growing up, I used to buy all my football gear from here. Now, it’s my daughter’s turn.”

Somenath Das visited Maidan Market to buy his daughter’s cricket shoes

But an air of resignation hangs over the market as a new nationwide surge in cases unfolded in recent weeks, reaching record highs.

Many stallholders fear that the gains made by Maidan Market since the start of this year in restoring a semblance of normalcy to the way it conducts business might be ruined by the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak.

Most admit that apart from relatively better psychological preparedness, they have little to no measures in place to counter the economic costs of a potential resuspension of all business if infections spiral out of control as they did a year ago.

Most stall owners are hoping for a smooth IPL in April and May to lift sales.

“With the IPL moving to the UAE last year because of the COVID crisis in India, the on-ground excitement around it died, meaning practically no business for us,” Nadim said.

“But even if the next tournament is held entirely behind closed doors, the return of top-flight cricket to the Eden Gardens could create enough buzz for fans and owners of malls, restaurants to buy merchandise from us.

“Ummeed par duniya kayam hain (Hope is what keeps people alive),” he added, as an afterthought.

Read full article: https://expatimes.com/?p=19526&feed_id=39652

[gokul2181]

Cricket without pressure is boring: Chris Morris | Cricket News

New Post has been published on https://jordarnews.in/cricket-without-pressure-is-boring-chris-morris-cricket-news/

Cricket without pressure is boring: Chris Morris | Cricket News

In their last five matches, Royal Challengers Bangalore‘s bowling in the death overs has got a much-needed boost. Deservingly, South African pace merchant Chris Morris takes a major share of the credit. In five matches he has picked up nine wickets with an enviable economy rate of five. The 33-year-old all-rounder’s campaign began late due to a muscle pull, but the impact has been immediate. Morris, a Rs 10-crore acquisition by RCB for this edition, during an interaction spoke about the IPL challenges, the team, living in a bio-bubble and young Indian talents. IPL 2020 POINTS TABLE Excerpts: On the pressure of bowling at the death Cricket comes with pressure. Think how much pressure AB and Virat and the whole batting unit are at all the time. It doesn’t matter what role you play in the team, there’s always going to be pressure. I don’t think the death bowling has been a problem, maybe guidance or different thinking was needed. The guys have the skills and talent. We’re improving our skills and execution every single game. That’s what is showing in our game. On the challenges of playing various roles I think I’m in a blessed position, to be honest. So, there are high pressure points that you want to be in as a cricketer. That’s where you want to get tested as a cricketer. You get to bowl fast, bowl yorkers and smash sixes (laughs). What more do you want? I have been very fortunate. I haven’t been really smacked (around in IPL) yet, but that’s going to come unfortunately. That’s the nature of the beast — the IPL. I just have to keep my clarity. The moment you lose clarity of what you want to do, that’s when everything gets side-tracked. The bounce-back ability needs to be good. As a new-ball and death bowler, you are going to get hit for six, you will get inside-edges for fours. It is about how you fix the next ball. If the next ball gets hit for a six, then just bowl the next, keep repeating, give your best. You have to continue to get better. Like I said, I’ve been very lucky, I have got wickets, I haven’t been hit for runs. I hope it continues, if it doesn’t it is about how you limit it. It is a tough game, but I enjoy doing it. On his injury management The medical staff were incredible. I’ve never had that type of injury before. It was a new thing for me. I got it while I was batting, I just hit a shot and tweaked a stomach muscle. So, I didn’t know how long it was going to take. We worked really hard. It was a tough four-and-a-half week for myself and the medical team. I would wake up every two hours and ice myself throughout the night. It was a hard graft and here we are. On playing in a bio-bubble It’s been different, at the beginning I thought I would get bored and lose my mind. But luckily, we’ve got a good bunch of guys. The RCB management has put together an amazing team room. We’ve got a pool to ourselves and a private beach. Last night, we had a barbeque outside. It was awesome with cricket on the big screen. We’ve got a golf simulator. The bio-bubble has been cool and a lot of fun. Playing in the UAE It has been magnificent. That’s the only word. People don’t realise the amount of travel in India. It’s not as easy as it sounds or looks. It’s absolutely draining. You finish the game at midnight and get back to the hotel room at half past one. You are so exhausted from the game, yet you have to pack your bags and put it outside. By then, it’s 3am and you for the airport in a couple of hours. You have to also shower and look respectable before the drive to the airport. It’s absolutely draining. It’s been quite refreshing to get to a place, unpack your bags and just relax. It feels almost like playing at home. It’s been really nice and refreshing. I think the boys are enjoying not travelling. On the young Indian bowlers I was with (Navdeep) Saini at Delhi (Capitals) where he was one of the net bowlers. I could not believe he wasn’t playing in our team because he was bowling at rocket pace. One of the things that I have picked up from Indian pacers is the amount of hard work they put in. It is very impressive. On the RCB youngsters who have impressed the most Dev’s (Devdutt Padikkal) batting at the top with (Aaron) Finch has been incredible. He has an imposing way of batting like Matthew Hayden. Obviously, he isn’t huge like Hayden. But technique-wise they are similar, the way they hit the ball. The way he moves around the field and conducts himself, you know he is the future. Washi (Washington Sundar) is coming into his own now. He is special to watch. Indian cricket is in good hands with these youngsters. On the influence of Dale Steyn on the team I’ve played with Dale for quite a few years and we’ve had many conversations around bowling and everything. The team calls him legend, not Dale or Steyn, because that’s what he is. For me, with Dale it is not the stuff that we talk on the field but more about off the field, life in general. For a guy who’s been playing since he was 20 and still does what he does is incredible. What he brings to the team is invaluable. On Mohammed Siraj‘s bowling against KKR You don’t often see something like that in any game, especially in a T20. The way Siraj came back, he had quite a tough game the last time he played. For him to come back, for the coaching staff to show the confidence to back him again, it’s testament to the squad. To see him execute what he could do, I like to call him ‘The Rogue’. He’s a rogue bowler and he is never scared of trying anything and he’s a good character to have on the field. On inching closer to the play-offs Until we actually walk onto the field for that first playoff game, I don’t think the playoffs are secured. I think our first job is to win the next game…. We’re not going to focus on the next four for now, we’re just going to focus on the next one which is going to be a tough one. I think we’ll just take every game as it comes, every game step by step. We don’t look too far into the future.

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[bigyack-com]

India vs New Zealand: 84 runs in 10 overs; third most expensive spell by an Indian spinner - What has happened to Kuldeep Yadav? - cricket

After the ICC Champions Trophy final loss to Pakistan in 2017, the Indian team management decided to make a big change to their strategy in limited overs cricket. Out went the finger spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and in came the young spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. What followed was a stupendous spell of success in both T20 cricket and one-day internationals.The left arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav struck the form of his life as he finished 2018 as the second most successful tweaker in ODIs behind Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. Kuldeep’s variety and guile was proving too much for international batsmen to handle. With 45 wickets from 20 matches at an average of 17.77 and economy of 4.64 in 2018, Kuldeep was being looked at as India’s biggest trump card going into the 2019 ICC World Cup in England. ALSO READ: ICC U19 World Cup - New Zealand U19 vs Bangladesh U19 live score - Bangladesh strike earlyBut something changed in the months preceding the big event in June-July. Kuldeep endured his worst ever IPL season, the tournament that put him into the spotlight first, picking up only 4 wickets in 9 outings for Kolkata Knight Riders. The shadow of a poor IPL loomed large over Kuldeep as he struggled to live up to his reputation in the World Cup as well.ALSO READ: ‘He is a wizard,’: Ian Bishop heaps praise on India U19 leggie Ravi BishnoiIn an interview to Hindustan Times during the IPL season Kuldeep had said, “I really want to learn the skill so that I could avoid getting hit. Sometimes the batsman is able to hit you but my strength lies in giving air to the ball, in being able to spin the ball, and I back myself. But this is an aspect where I want to improve because it is good to be attacking but you have to think of the team as well and be able to save runs too.”An out an out wicket taker, who gave a new spark to India’s spin attack in limited overs cricket, wanted to contain runs. What and how did he start thinking on these lines. Is this the reason behind Kuldeep’s recent struggles. Well, one can only speculate but the numbers are clearly showing that the chinaman bowler has been a far cry from his impressive start.ALSO READ: Sloppy fielding, 24 wides, dodgy selection - 3 mistakes that cost India the first ODI against New Zealand at HamiltonKuldeep finished 2019 with 35 wickets from 23 matches. The average had gone up to 34.68 and that was primarily because of a steep hike in his economy rate, which stood at 5.33. His recent outing against New Zealand in Hamilton, where he was taken for 84 runs has once again brought into light his recent misery.Kuldeep when he began always knew how to come back, despite being attacked. This Kuldeep it seems gets into a shell once he starts going for runs. The defensive streak in his approach is clear and that could be hurting the talented tweaker.Former India left arm spinner Maninder Singh has another theory. He pointed out a technical flaw in Kuldeep’s bowling, which he thinks needs to be fixed as soon as possible for him to regain confidence and boost his performance.“I have been saying this from the day when he became successful that Kuldeep has a technical flaw in his action and if that is not looked into he will get caught out soon. His front arm drops very quickly, because of which the life in the ball (the revolutions and pace on the ball) is not as much as it should be to sustain success.“He has got caught out now. He has played a lot of international cricket and people have seen his videos and they know what is his ball speed and with what speed it comes from the pitch,” Maninder opined.A veteran of 35 Tests and 59 ODIs himself, Maninder knows all about fading out after a bright start in international cricket and he doesn’t want the same to happen to Kuldeep. He too pointed out at Kuldeep’s lack of confidence post IPL 2019.“I am speaking out of personal experience. I too lost my way in the middle of a great career. I think his confidence has gone down after last year’s IPL. You need someone to speak to him and look into this technical problem which I am talking about. Once this is sorted he will get his confidence back. He is a real talent for Indian cricket and we need to preserve him so that he can get laurels for the team for many years,” Maninder opined. Read the full article

[hsrsports]

Haven't played for last 18-20 months but fresh now for IPL: Mohit Sharma - Click on link to subscribe my channel https://ift.tt/34vXvMA Facebook - https://ift.tt/2Vjiyz6 Twitter - https://twitter.com/HsrSports Pinterest - https://ift.tt/2ywdZIH Tumblr - https://ift.tt/2z5qwmL Blog - https://ift.tt/2VlBDRu #Sports #Sports_News #Tournament NEW DELHI: A successful Ranji Trophy season eight years ago earned Haryana medium-pacer Mohit Sharma the attention that fast-tracked him first into the IPL and then Team India, both times under talismanic skipper MS Dhoni in 2013. However, in the upcoming IPL season, Sharma's tight line and length will benefit Delhi Capitals, who would look to pick up from their playoff-stage finish in the last season. Under Dhoni at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Sharma repaid his skipper's faith to hand him the new ball with two blockbuster IPL seasons, capturing 20 and 23 wickets respectively (2013 2014). He made his India debut in 2013, and the success story took a fairytale turn when a lucky break earned him a place in the 2015 World Cup after Ishant Sharma got injured. But since his last international appearance -- against Australia in an ODI in October 2015, the 31-year-old Sharma seemed to have lost steam and a back injury last year didn't help his cause. While CSK served a two-year ban, Sharma moved to Kings XI Punjab, but a below-par stint saw him being released by the Punjab team in 2019, after which CSK bought him back, only to be released again for this year. But having recovered from a surgery for his back injury and after a longer break than usual from cricket because of the coronavirus-forced halt, Sharma is ready to ply his trade for Delhi Capitals, who bought him for a base price of Rs 50 lakh at the 2020 IPL auction. Sharma's renewed push to reclaim his India jersey will begin in the UAE, where the delayed edition of IPL 2020 will be held from September 19 to November 10. In a chat with Timeofindia.com from the UAE, Sharma shared his thoughts on what lies ahead for him and his team. (Mohit Sharma/Photo by Delhi Capitals) How is life in a bio-secure bubble and amid so many restrictions? It's been almost two weeks in the bubble. The first week of quarantine was a bit difficult - you couldn't go anywhere, not even in the room next to you, that was the difficult part. But even in that phase, we were provided with all the exercise equipment (in the hotel room), yoga sessions were going on through video conferencing. So time was well spent, despite it being difficult. Now we are out, getting to play cricket, it's a nice feeling. On a personal note, I am not the kind of person who goes out a lot. I am getting to play cricket, that's enough for me. With a ban on moving out and socialising, how do you keep busy in the UAE when not training? We are trying to spend as much time with each other. If we are not training, we eat together, spend time around the pool maybe. We don't have that much area to move around in the hotel, but whatever access we have, we try to spend time together. Delhi played the playoffs last season after a long gap, but this is going to be a tough and different season in many ways, with no crowd, saliva ban, etc. How is the team approaching the campaign in this changed set-up? If we keep results aside, the Delhi team has always been very good. I have played in other teams and Delhi was always competitive. Back then, we always used to say that you can never take Delhi lightly. There are a lot of youngsters in the team, and even now why people are saying that Delhi is strong is because we have continued with those youngsters for two years now, so they are settled. The results were not (consistently) in our favour because the process to get desired results is a long one. That could be the reason. But at the moment, the team is looking very strong and the kind of process that's going on, the amount of hard work we are putting in, the way (Ricky) Ponting is guiding us or the way Ryan Harris is working with the bowlers, I think the results will be in our favour this season. (Mohit Sharma, left, and Ishant Sharma/Photo by Delhi Capitals) On a personal note, what has helped you the best to cope with all this and still remain in the best shape both physically and mentally? For me, it's very important to keep fresh because I haven't played cricket for the last 18-20 months. Last year, around June-July, I underwent a back...

[vsplusonline]

Ojha announces retirement

New Post has been published on https://apzweb.com/ojha-announces-retirement/

Ojha announces retirement

Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha announced retirement from international and First Class cricket on Friday.

The 33-year-old, who played his last Test in November 2013 in Mumbai which was also Sachin Tendulkar’s farewell match, said in a statement that representing the country at the highest level was a dream he had cherished as a youngster.

“I am at a loss for words to describe how fortunate I have been to have lived my dream and earned the love and respect of my fellow countrymen.

“For a sportsperson there cannot be a better reward,” he said.

Ojha thanked the Hyderabad Cricket Association and the BCCI for giving him the platform to “showcase my talent”.

He also expressed special thanks to several players, including V.V.S. Laxman, Venkatapathi Raju, M.S. Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary and Saurav Ganguly to name a few who were “so supportive to my cause,” he told The Hindu on Friday.

“I feel the most memorable moments were when I got the India Test cap for I believe Test cricket is the ultimate format,” he said.

“And, in terms of winning for the country the other moment was when I returned a seven-wicket haul in the Test against Sri Lanka there when I played because Harbhajan Singh was taken ill,” Ojha recalled.

“Another unforgettable moment was the farewell Test for the great Sachin Tendulkar.

“It was a truly emotional match for many reasons and I am fortunate to have soaked in that kind of atmosphere,” he said.

Interestingly, Sachin tweeted on Ojha’s retirement “it was always great to see your big heart & skill at work. You made my last Test special by picking up 10 wickets. Welcome to the second innings club, my friend!”

IPL stints

“The IPL stints with Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians have always been special and again all these things would not have been possible but for Vijaya Paul’s coaching,” Ojha said.

Any regrets? “Frankly, none. I always enjoyed the way things have gone for me. Right now, I am doing TV commentary and see how things shape up.

“But, I look back with a lot of contentment for sure,” he concluded.

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[torentialtribute]

Ben Stokes is a very modern genius… but we have to make sure he doesn’t burn out

Sportsmail's cricket experts are considering a sensational Headingley test, Ben's heroism Stokes and consider the destination of the ash now.

Have you seen a larger test?

Paul Newman (Cricket correspondent)

No, this is not a privilege to be there. How can a team for 67 be eliminated and still win? That has not been done for over a hundred years, for God's sake. I was not at Headingley 1981 or Edgbaston 2005, so there really is no competition.

This is why Test Cricket remains the best game and please, please, please always. Isn't that the kind of cricket that will inspire a new audience? I can't bear the prospect of retiring to watch only Twenty20 and heaven forbids The Hundred. I just can not.

Ben Stokes hits a six against Nathan Lyon while Australian captain Tim Paine watches on

Nasser Hussain (former captain of England)

I have seen some of the 1981 series as a young kid, but the only game they performed in the area was the Ashes Test 2005 in Edgbaston. That had incredible drama right at the end, but the difference between that match and Headingley was that Edgbaston had several key players influencing the game at different times, while Headingley was ultimately about one man.

And England won not only after he was eliminated for 67, but they needed 73 with only one wicket in their hand. In terms of wonder, Headingley wins for me.

David & # 39; Bumble & # 39; Lloyd (Broadcaster, former English batsman and coach)

I was out during the game and strangers came to me on the street and said: & # 39; Have you seen what just happened in Headingley? & # 39; It feels as if the game has evoked the spirit of the country, somewhat like Botham's heroism in 1981.

And I also think that more people became involved in this competition. The first four days were sold out, while in the 1981 Headingley test the total turnout in five days was 52,000. I can't think of a test that has caught the nation like this.

Defeat in Headingley allegedly raised questions about Joe Root & # 39; s Test captaincy

Lawrence Booth (Wisden Editor)

The only test I saw in real life that could compete with Headingley 2019 was Edgbaston 2005 – another opportunity when England avoided going 2-0 against Australia through the skin of their teeth (and with a little help from the referee).

But there were three tests to go that summer. The defeat at Headingley would have been curtains and the questions would have started about the captain of Joe Root. Part of the shine of the World Cup would also have been removed.

Three tests were won by teams that followed, and two are equal, but this competition must match each rank.

How about a larger test inning?

Booth : For sheer shock value, Kusal Perera & # 39; s undefeated 153 for Sri Lanka against South Africa in Durban in February (another win with one wicket) will only effort.

For out-and-out cojones, there is Kevin Pietersen & # 39; s Ashes clinching 158 at The Oval in 2005. But for his range of strokes – the driveway here, the straight-sixes everywhere – Ben Stokes must go straight into the upper handful.

After the first innings of England 67, people rightly complain that white-ball cricket had damaged the testing techniques. But without Cricket with white balls, Stokes could not have hit like Sunday. It was a very modern piece of genius.

Hussain : That was the best innings I saw by an Englishman, especially when you consider that you have already climbed one Everest on the World Cup this summer.

He must have been mentally empty, so playing like this was remarkable. As for the foreign innings, everyone spoke earlier this year about the battle of Kusal Perera against Durban, South Africa.

But I also think back to the 281 of VVS Laxman in Kolkata against the Australians of Steve Waugh in 2001, when India won after a sequel and he had to hit a turning point against Shane Warne.

Lloyd : There have been a few. Graham Gooch & # 39; s undefeated 154 in Headingley in 1991 was one, and there was Brian Lara & # 39; s 153 not against Australia in Bridgetown in 1999.

But I have chosen a few that can be compared with Stokes. Mike Atherton & # 39; s 185 not out in nearly 11 hours to save England in Johannesburg in 1999-2000.

Then there is the beautiful 103 from Sachin Tendulkar to help chase India to 387 to beat England in Chennai in 2008-09. It came after the terrorist attack in Mumbai and just felt like the right result in an emotional game.

Newman : No, again. In the dizziness of the moment, I said it was the best innings ever played in Test cricket, and countless views of the highlights don't diminish the hyperbole.

The largest innings I had ever seen before was Graham Gooch on the same Headingley ground in 1991 against the West Indies at their best, with Derek Pringle playing the supporting role. This must be better because the axis was on the line. It was perfect from Stokes in every way.

Where does Stokes go from here?

Stokes is now at the highest point cricketing and is the best all-rounder in the world

Lloyd : I hope he packs his bags and takes his family to a secret hideout for a few days. He just needs to get away and come back refreshed for Manchester.

His life took a wrong turn not so long ago, but this summer everything revolved around redemption: first winning the World Cup, now two hundred in the As.

He did the right thing by leaving and getting fit, and now he has to stay that way. We have always talked about Botham and Flintoff, but the chat is now on Ben Stokes.

Newman : To cricket greatness. To become the best all-rounder in the world and the best that England has ever had. To fulfill all that potential, he threatened to throw away that dark night in Bristol.

To inspire children to pick up the game, Ian Botham did me and so many others all those years ago. And to create that same feeling of awe, I still feel when I meet Sir Beefy in various media centers around the world, because & # 39; it's Ian Botham! & # 39; Stokes can do this now and more.

Booth : further and higher. He's only 28, but he's kept himself in better physical shape than the other two all-rounders in England, Botham and Flintoff, and he has a real love for the game and his teammates.

Stokes is the real leader in this test team, but vice captain is where he should stay: imagine how many overs he would throw if he was in charge.

Now that he has removed Bristol from his system, he can be as good as he wants to be – or possibly as good as the ridiculously busy schedule allows.

He is only 28 and has himself in better shape then kept his predecessor Andrew Flintoff

Hussain : I think Stokes will just keep doing what he did. He will just train hard, and he will not grow up. He remains an incredibly popular teamman.

The only question is how he is cared for, what will be a debate for the ECB and its management company. Yes, he deserves to earn a lot of money at the IPL, and he probably just has another & # 39; 0 & # 39; added to his contract, but they must keep a close eye on his workload.

He is an all-rounder in all three formats, and we must ensure that he does not burn out, like Botham and Flintoff for him.

What should England do now

Hussain : The big question is the fitness of Jimmy Anderson. If he has passed enough overs before the fourth test, and both he and the medical staff think he is fit to play in Manchester, then he fits in with Chris Woakes.

But we cannot pay a repeat of Edgbaston. Regarding beating, I have said all the time that I want to open Joe Denly to open, promote Stokes to No. 4 and allow Jason Roy to No. 5.

The big question for the fourth test at Old Trafford is the fitness of Jimmy Anderson

Lloyd : Will Anderson fit well? It is a risk, especially after Edgbaston. What he needs is good kilometers in his legs, not a two-day two-day practice match.

And if Jason Roy was good enough Two tests ago, he is now good enough. We can't just throw players overboard. The only possible change I would consider is to get Dawid Malan for Joe Denly, but I tend to stay on the same side.

Booth : Two players look a bit tired: Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes. They have both had emotionally declining summers and it is no shame to give them a few races for the winter.

I would give pope at No. 6 (not No. 4, where he did two tests against India last summer) and Sam Curran at No. 8.

about Jimmy Anderson, but they are going risk him after Edgbaston? Moreover, the tail would then consist of two No 10s and two No 11s. That can prove to be expensive.

Chris Woakes looked a bit tired and could make way for Anderson in Manchester

Newman : We cannot only think that everything is now rosy in the English garden. Yes, they can hit well, but they must now continue to win the Ashes and I would make some tweaks.

The experiment with Jason Roy at the top of the order was worth trying, but it didn't work and I would move it to the middle order. Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler still seem to be suffering from a World Cup hangover and I would take them out of line.

And sorry Jonny, but Ben Foakes to eat and take the gloves. He is a real test cricket and deserves another shot. The time of Ollie Pope and Sam Curran will come

What about the Aussies? How do they recover from Headingley?

Booth : Captain Tim Paine spoke a good game on Sunday evening and said that Australia could have won all of the first three tests. And he's right. So the fact that it is 1-1 can give them the sinking feeling they experienced in 1981 and 2005.

Nathan Lyon in particular will have to pick himself up, although not many English cricketers shed a tear for him. Steve Smith's return changes dynamics again, and he should replace Matthew Wade, who himself has only 100 help in the second innings in Edgbaston.

Steven Smith's return to Australian batting line-ups changes dynamics once again

Newman : It will be very difficult for Australia to come back, and England must ensure that this does not happen.

Who knows if Steve Smith will be quite the same when he returns, but there are two clear candidates that he can replace in Usman Khawaja or Matthew Wade. All the pressure is on the Aussies and a captain in Tim Paine whose leadership was as dodgy as his batting in Leeds.

Mitchell Starc plays at the fastest pitch in the series, which is not over yet. But I stick to what I said the moment the Lord's Test was taken. And what I wish I hadn't said when they were thrown out on Friday at 67 AM. England will win the Ashes.

Lloyd : Australia will falter. They've messed up a run-out and used up their reviews, although I still think the lbw scream at Stokes slid down the leg. Hawk-Eye does not seem to have noticed that it deviates after hitting its front path.

As for Nathan Lyon, people will remember the moment he dropped the ball on Vill from ABL after being deflated in a test in South Africa. For me, Smith comes in for Khawaja.

Matthew Wade was able to make way for Smith despite a self-help hundred at Edgbaston

Hussain : the problems in Australia will be psychological. They still have a fantastic bowling attack, and they know everything about the weak vulnerability of England. But they must leave Headingley behind.

Mitchell Starc should come in what is expected to be the fastest throw in the series, probably for James Pattinson, although they may decide that Pat Cummins needs rest. And Steve Smith plays instead of Travis Head or Matthew Wade.

Usman Khawaja has enough credit in the bank to survive. Tim Paine is a problem – both because of his lack of runs and his bad review – but they don't let the captain fall.

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[bharatiyamedia-blog]

From Shakib Al Hasan's consistency to Rashid Khan's flop googly: The hits and misses of World Cup 2019

http://tinyurl.com/y2jvexcb The World Cup extravaganza is nearly over. On July 14, at Lord’s, England and New Zealand can be locking horns within the ultimate as the sport goes to have a brand new world champion. Neither of the 2 groups has ever gained the World Cup regardless of qualifying for the ultimate a a number of occasions. The World Cup 2019 witnessed some high-intensity clashes and in addition a few main upsets. Nonetheless, the one disappointing facet of the match (aside from the the English climate) was the predictability of the 4 semi-finalists. The semi-finalists could, nevertheless had been on the anticipated traces however the person performances weren’t. Whereas there have been some who made the a lot of the large stage alternative, there have been others who did not dwell as much as their fame. Listed here are a few of our picks who impressed and those who did not impress within the World Cup 2019: Shakib Al Hasan Shakib’s efficiency on the World Cup 2019 showcases why he tops the ICC charts for all-rounders. 75, 64, 121, 124*, 41, 51, 66, 64: These are Shakib’s batting figures on this match. The Bangladesh all-rounder left the marketing campaign as the primary cricketer within the match’s historical past to attain greater than 600 runs and take 11 wickets. Shakib had a strike price of 96.03 and an unbelievable common of 86.5 in his 4th 50-over World Cup. Alex Carey How typically does one see a cricketer coming in to play at No. 7 and creating batting information? That could be a uncommon scene within the sport. Nonetheless, Alex Carey is one such batsman who has been fairly spectacular at that spot. On the again of his sheer brilliance, he was promoted to bat at No. 5 within the World Cup semi-finals. After Australia suffered a top-order collapse within the semi-final in opposition to New Zealand, it was Alex Carey who steadied his aspect together with his 46-run knock. He had additionally hit essential 71 runs in opposition to New Zealand to assist his aspect get to a aggressive rating within the league fixtures. He’s additionally the second highest run-getter for Australia. With a strike price of 104 and a median of 62, Carey has amassed 375 runs in 9 innings. Not solely this, however the wicket-keeper can also be main the charts for many variety of dismissals (20). Avishka Fernando Avishka Fernando discovered his place within the Sri Lanka aspect solely within the latter half of the match. However after enjoying in simply Four innings, Fernando gave a glimpse of his expertise. Within the 21-year-old, Sri Lanka may discover somebody who may strengthen their top-order. Having hit Sri Lanka’s first ODI hundred since January, Fernando made 203 runs at a strike-rate of 105 and at a median of 50.75. Making a debut within the nationwide aspect in 2016, at present, Avishka Fernando is seen as Sri Lanka’s brightest cricketing prospect on the worldwide stage and in addition the way forward for the Islanders. Mohammed Shami Shami was not a part of the the Indian enjoying XI till pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar injured his hamstring. In his debut match of this World Cup, Shami bowled pin level yorkers to choose a hat-trick and assist India keep away from a significant upset by the hands of Afghanistan. Shami got here up with one other advantageous efficiency in opposition to West Indies as he picked a successive 4-wicket haul. He bettered that feat in India’s subsequent sport in opposition to England, the place the pacer took a 5-wicket haul. In simply Four innings, Shami picked 14 wickets for India at an economic system price of 5. Listed here are the misses: Rashid Khan The bowler whom the opposition batsmen feared within the IPL 2019, made headlines within the World Cup 2019 for all of the unsuitable causes. Having tasted big success in IPL, the World Cup turned out to be extra of a nightmare for former World No. 1 all-rounder Rashid Khan. Within the eight innings, Rashid performed on the World Cup, he picked 6 wickets and leaked 416 runs for his aspect. His worst day on the World Cup got here in opposition to England the place he leaked 110 runs in his 10 overs to turn into the most costly bowler in World Cup. Chris Gayle Enjoying in his final world Cup, Universe Boss Chris Gayle had a fairly an underwhelming match because the power-hitter did not dwell as much as the expectations he had set after a successfull IPL marketing campaign. The West Indian opener managed simply 2 fifties on this World Cup to get a complete of 242 runs at an unimpressive common of 30. 35. Certainly, this was not the tip his followers anticipated to the Chris Gayle period. Martin Guptill New Zealand are by way of to the finals however the type of their openers stays to be a giant fear for them forward of their conflict with England on July 14. Martin Guptill and Colin Munro have proven a dismal efficiency with the bat as New Zealand have largely relied on their skipper Kane Williamson for accumulating runs. After a poor present from Munro, Henry Nicholls have taken his place however Guptill continues to be the opposite opener. Within the semi-final in opposition to India, he as soon as once more failed with the bat as he departed for 1. Although, he later stole the present together with his terrific direct hit to run-out MS Dhoni and switch the match round. Martin Guptill has to date did not emulate the shape he confirmed in his final World Cup the place he 547 runs and in addition slammed an unbeaten 237-that stays to be the best particular person rating in a World Cup historical past. Gutpill has only a solitary fifty to his identify within the match as his different scores with the bat are: 25, 0, 35, 0, 5, 20, eight and 1. Kagiso Rabada For essentially the most a part of the IPL 2019, Kagiso Rabada remained to be the best wicket-taker earlier than bowing out of the match on account of an harm. Rabada was on the prime of his type within the IPL because the pacer scalped 26 wickets within the season in simply 12 innings. Nonetheless, in response to South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, the IPL workload was the reason for Rabada’s poor present within the World Cup 2019. “So I do not assume it isn’t essentially simply the IPL, but it surely was essential for a couple of guys to relaxation; and the truth that they did not meant that they – , they got here into the match not recent. That is not an excuse; that is only a reality. And KG is – you may see that his tempo might be somewhat bit down from the place he usually is,” du Plessis had stated. Rabada had fairly a hype round his identify earlier than the beginning of the match, however the pacer had an unmemorable match. In eight innings, Rabada had picked 11 wickets and leaked 397 runs to ent up with a poor economic system of 5.Zero runs per over as South Africa suffered a pre-mature exit from the semi-finals rivalry. Additionally See Get real-time alerts and all of the news in your telephone with the all-new India Right now app. Obtain from !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)}; if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script', 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); fbq('init', '605311446619075'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); fbq('track', 'ViewContent'); Source link

[getseriouser]

20 THOUGHTS: Don't go there boyfriend!

AT some point in every season a bad start can no longer be written off as a couple bad games, nor should one dismiss a great ladder position as just an easy start to the fixture.

Geelong had arguably the hardest first month and a half based on our preconceived ideas of how 2019 would shape up, and not only did they pass with flying colours they sit perched a game clear on top.

Too, if you’re of the Demon or Kangaroo persuasion, to have only win entering May with percentage as crap as Clive Palmer is likeable, that’s not ideal.

After the conclusion of the festival of footy where now the idea of weekdays without a match seems strange, we can now start to cast proper judgements as to what 2019 has in store.

 1.       Firstly, how is Jimmy Faulkner going? I mean, sure, its 2019 and language constantly evolves, but whilst I’ve been tight with some male friends before I’ve never resorted to the ‘boyfriend’ pseudonym. Sure, women refer to their girlfriends all the time, but even if it’s all a gross misunderstanding that set the media alight pre-breakfast, the use of that term, amongst blokes, has just got hairs on it, rightly or wrongly. That said, Faulkner as a bowler was proficient both over and around the wicket, so maybe he likes to…. no, that’s cheap, let’s talk footy.

2.       Paddy McCartin, pick one,  you thought, right, there’s a Tom Hawkins type to kick 500+ goals for the Sainter. Far too many headknocks later and its got the Liam Pickens written all over it. But never fear, Alan Richardson’s theory is that once he is right all will be resolved by moving him to defense, “to change not having to go back with the flight of the ball”…. Ah, God forbid Paddy ends up 10m short of an incoming opposition kick and has to go back with the…. Richo, you haven’t though that through!

3.       Let’s address Majak Daw again. This story is ridiculous, but in a lovely way. So whether we should say it or not (and I’m a massive proponent for calling suicide for what it is, but that’s for a different column) this is one hell of a comeback. Perhaps not for the typical sense, reoccurring knee injuries, the Jason McCartney story, but for the stark, cold-world reality of what happened that night on the Bolte Bridge. In a lot of ways, if he is able to return to VFL or senior footy in the next couple of months, as mooted, its less about him and his personal recovery, but more about the bigger picture, one that is now killing more Australians than pretty much everything else. I hope this can make a difference, it bloody well can and needs to.

4.       From serious to less so – now Melbourne. Kicked their lowest score since Snake was the preeminent phone app Anzac Day Eve. In real hurt. And its not just one small thing as previously suspected – they don’t win the hard ball, they are getting smashed on the outside and for run, their forward line is as dysfunctional as a vegan at Meat and Wine Co. and their backline shows as much resistance as France in any military combat. Lot to unpack, lot to fix, and those snow chalets are just putting the fire on – this spells trouble.

5.       Sydney on the other hand, well Horse has called it – after a gazillion years of annoying over-competiveness, they’re conceding a lean year. But when you’ve dished out such amazing value for ground admission over the last decade, if you’re going to finish near the bottom with a bounce back probably not far away, you can’t have much gripe if you’re a Bloods supporter.

6.       The Eagles need to get serious. Easy to say, especially given I have no interest in watching highlights of last year’s Granny, but they’re game style is like a Jackson Pollock right now. If their midfield isn’t punching above their weight Jack Darling is rendered useless, their forwards all look lazy and their backline whilst supreme can't stop the onslaught. Have an easy month coming up and will make finals, but super breakable as per the last fortnight’s evidence.

7.       Oh, yeah, the booing last Thursday. Was it coz Pendlebury exacerbated a high in that fourth quarter? Was it because a furiously competitive finish had a couple suspect-looking frees go against the Bombers, whose fans wanted to do nothing but rage against the machine? Or was it the two tribes bristling when Pendles acknowledged the crowd, the Bomber fans wanting to drown out their rowdy rivals? You know what, who cares, we don’t need a symposium for booing, next we’re going to have to stop funny puns on banners, re-write all club songs to be enthusiastically inclusive and do away with scoring all together because awarding winners and losers is essentially marginalisation. So to those who cried foul, its booing – move along.

8.       How stiff is Carlton? Lost the Suns game and then let the Hawks back in on the weekend. But, this column must concede, Bolton, an ex-Clarkson man which we acknowledge is key to success (last six premierships), might be just starting to extract from the talent he clearly now has to work with. Want to see them win this week and we will accept our fate – the Blues might be finally alright. But we wait, need to win this week.

9.       As for Tasmania, yeah so given the strength of the junior programs and some key KPIs bearing fruit in the game’s NSW strategies, the talent pool for two more teams in the next decade is mighty feasible. So the game of bluff with giving Tassie a checklist for admission is staring down the barrel of actually happening. Right now, if there’s a wager as to whether the Apple Isle has its own team by 2030, get on, it would now need something to go badly amiss.

10.   Best on ground on Sunday down there is another this column needs to concede defeat on. With supposedly knees made of fairy floss, Jaeger O’Meara looks like the talent and promise he once displayed as a Sun might be now fulfilled as a Hawk. He is the definition of a jet. Such a shame we don’t have State of Origin, a centre square of him, Cripps, Fyfe and Naitanui is as electric a side you’ll see, would give Victoria quite a run.

11.   As for a pair of midfielders not getting the kudos, couple Victorian brothers playing for the Crows – the Crouch boys. Both averaging 30 a game, Cripps aside you hardly see better clearance work, and if the Crows can work their stuff out over the next month or so, they could play finals, be a nuisance, and the two lads from Ballarat will get the recognition they deserve for being proper guns of this competition.

12.   Couple more on the Crows – firstly Josh Jenkins. Jimmy Bartel and Matty Lloyd reckon he just comes back in after being dropped for the Saints game last week. Ah, why? Himmelberg came in and whilst not as talented looks a much better fit, structurally, than Jenkins, and given the Crows looked properly good why change a winning formula? Jenkins can sit until the need arises for mine.

13.   And as for Tex Walker, gee, if he can stay fit I can’t see why he can’t become the premier big man in the game. Has the size, strength and weapons to excel. You want a bag of five, he can, you want a 15-mark game playing up the flanks, he can, you want some presence for your smalls to work off, he can. Just turned 29, this is it for the lad from Broken Hill, but this column still rates the Texan.

14.   So let’s look at the teams we like, in no order let’s applaud the Essendon effort Thursday. Well and truly out of it early but it was sheer talent and will that almost got them over the line. We like their backline, like their kids, Redman, Ridley, and with Fantasia and Francis back in that side, and a fit Joey Daniher, this team wins a final. From there, not sure, let’s see, but this is a good footy team. And capable this Sunday too.

15.   As for their opponents this Sunday, how’s the forward line mix? Two-time Brownlow medalist as a midfield playing permanent flank, Gary Rohan, known for his speed, now sitting deep and putting the pace aside. Chuck in the enigma Miers, Hawkins looks in ripping nick – if the Cats go deep, it’s because of the forward line. But it’s still April, so let’s see.

16.   The Cats have lost once, to the Giants, down at Kardinia Park too. If I’m putting a dollar on a premier – it’s the orange tsunami. Still holds elite talent, probably the best list with those concessions still ringing true, and just idling at this stage of the season. Will be almost impossible to beat in Sydney and will win plenty on the road too. Don’t forget the Giants.

17.   So how many teams can win it – to this point, five. Giants obviously, got to include the Cats, the Pies are in the mix, then the Tigers and Eagles as well. Richmond make the finals, and finish the season strongly, look out, and the Eagles will make the finals and know how to win one. I don’t think they will but shit, they finish top four again somehow then why not?

18.   Couple question marks to finish, firstly Daniel Wells. If I’m Collingwood I manage him to be fit for August. If he needs three weeks ‘management’ in June, then fine, love it. But the idea of Wells fit, playing outside of the midfield rotation where a dozen touches could be match winning come the Spring time, it’s just another really problematic magnet for the opposition coaches to be concerned about.

19.   And for those that still want to pot Daniel Hannebery’s acquisition, sure, maybe he enjoys inhaling through his nose more than his mouth, maybe it’s a breathing preference, maybe its something else, but let’s not forget, Andrew Lovett cost the Saints the same trade deal and never played a game. But that year was 2010 and they were a bad bounce away from a second-ever flag that same season. Doesn’t mean they have a similar year this year, not at all, but one bad trade does not a bad club make. The Saints will be fine.

20.   And lastly, cricket – David Warner, the enigma staring down a return to the national team, has torn the IPL a new one. No-one has scored more runs this season; he amassed 692 from ten digs, which is just insane. The premier white ball batsman in the world right now, so what was a big question mark now becomes our greatest asset perhaps for a World Cup defense. Get excited.

[gokul2181]

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Siraj, Chahal knock down Kolkata Knight Riders, restrict them to 84/8 | Cricket News

New Post has been published on https://jordarnews.in/kkr-vs-rcb-live-score-siraj-chahal-knock-down-kolkata-knight-riders-restrict-them-to-84-8-cricket-news/

KKR vs RCB Live Score: Siraj, Chahal knock down Kolkata Knight Riders, restrict them to 84/8 | Cricket News

LIVE BLOG | SCORECARD End of 1st over: A decent start from Pat Cummins. 4 from his first over. Prasidh Krishna to share the new ball with Cummins from the other end. RCB 4/0 Devdutt Padikkal an Aaron Finch walk out to the middle to start the 85-run chase for RCB. A terrific opportunity for RCB to improve their net run rate, which is currently -ve. Pat Cummins has the new ball in hand for KKR. A slip in place for him. Padikkal on strike. Here we go! Kolkata Knight Riders – 84/8 Eoin Morgan 30 Mohammed Siraj 3/8 Yuzvendra Chahal 2/15

The many moods of #RCB Skipper, @imVkohli #Dream11IPL https://t.co/dNyQXkpd8U

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KKR’s total 84/8 is the lowest by an IPL side batting full quota of 20 overs and not losing all 10 wickets! Previous: 92/8 (20 overs) by KXIP v CSK at Durban in 2009 End of 20th over: 10 runs and a wicket in form of a run out in the final over from Chris Morris. A combined bowling effort led by Mohammed Siraj has restricted KKR to 84/8 — their second lowest total in IPL. End of 19th over: Mohammed Siraj completes the penultimate over of the innings. Just 6 runs in it. He finishes with phenomenal figures of 4-2-8-3. KKR 74/7 17.4 overs: KKR now have gone past 67, their lowest total ever in the IPL. A quick single from Lockie Ferguson off Chris Morris. KKR 68/7 End of 17th over: 7 runs from Yuzvendra Chahal’s over including a boundary. Chahal completes his quota for the day. Finishes with figures if 4-0-15-2. KKR 65/7 15.4 overs: OUT! And straight after striking a boundary, Eoin Morgan this time hits the ball straight into the hands of the cow-corner fielder. KKR slide continues. Morgan departs for 30. Sundar picks up his first wicket. The lowest ever total by KKR in IPL is 67. Will they manage to atleast cross it? KKR 57/7 50 up for Kolkata Knight Riders! Finally! It has taken 15 over for KKR to get to 50-run mark today. That has been the level of domination from RCB bowlers. A perfect outing so far in this clash. Now they just need to finish well in the last 5. KKR 52/6 End of 14th over: Another good over from Washington Sundar. Just 5 singles from it. RCB have just continued to maintain pressure on KKR. Have given nothing away. KKR 46/6 Fact: Lowest ever total in IPL is 49 by RCB vs KKR in 2017 12.3 overs: OUT! Second wicket for Yuzvendra Chahal. Pat Cummins perishes, trying to hit one out of the park. Wide outside off from Chahal and Cummis throws his bat at it. Mistimes and Devdutt Padikkal completes a simple catch at wide long-off. KKR 40/6 End of 11th over: A maiden now from Washington Sundar. Pat Cummins just had no answer to all of Sundar’s six deliveries in that over. Also he survived a review in that over from Sundar. KKR 39/5 Halfway through! And RCB have completely overpowered KKR in this first half of the first innings. Wickets have tumbled like a pack of cards for KKR. Now its all up to skipper Eoin Morgan and Pat Cummins to firstly take them past 100 and then possibly to a competitive total. KKR 36/5after 10 overs. 8.5 overs: Review from Pat Cummins and he survives! Once again a googly from Yuzvendra Chahal and this time umpire rules the decision in his favour. Cummins goes for the review and replays and ball-tracking confirm that this time ball was missing the stumps. KKR 32/5 8.4 overs: OUT! Yuzvendra Chahal now strikes in his first over. Googly from Chahal and Dinesh Karthik misses it completely. Hits him on the pads. The original decision was not out and Virat Kohli opts for the review just in time. A perfect call from the RCB skipper as multiple replays and ball-tracking confirm that the ball is hitting the stumps. Karthik has to go back and yet another success for RCB. Their bowlers are on a roll. Half of the KKR batting order is back in the hut. KKR 32/5 End of 8th over: SIX to finish the over from Navdeep Saini. Short from him and Eoin Morgan hits it in the deep square-leg region to pic up six important runs. The ball just goes over the fielder at the fence. Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack for the first time. KKR 30/4 6.3 overs: FOUR! A boundary, finally for KKR. A much-need one! Over-pitched from Isuru Udana and Eoin Morgan drives it through covers to pick up four runs. End of Powerplay! A sensational start from Royal Challengers Bangalore. Four wickets in the powerplay and KKR are reeling at the moment. They are in all sorts of trouble. Mohammed Siraj, the wrecker-in-chief with three wickets so far in his 3 overs. Completes his third over with a well-directed bouncer. Siraj figures so far – 3-2-2-3. Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik struggling at the moment against RCB quicks. KKR 17/4 End of 5th over: Another excellent over, this time from Chris Morris. Just one from it that too a leg-bye. Pacers have put RCB on top, early in this contest. A dream start for Virat Kohli and Co. KKR 15/4

Milestone 🔓100 catches for Mr 360 in IPL.#Dream11IPL https://t.co/ncb8awE94b

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3.3 overs: OUT! Third wicket for Mohammed Siraj. He is on fire! This time he removes Tom Banton for 10. Outside edge and AB de Villiers makes no mistake behind the stumps. The decision to bat first has back-fired in a big way for Kolkata. They are reeling at the moment. KKR 14/4 2.2 overs: OUT! Another one for RCB! This time, Navdeep Saini gets rid of Shubman Gill. A horrendous start from KKR. Gill tries to go over the in-field on the on-side but mistimes. Chris Morris at mid-on completes a simple catch. Gill departs for 1 and KKR are now 3 down. KKR 3/3 End of 2nd over: A sensational start from Mohammed Siraj. A double-wicket maiden from him first up. Navdeep Saini now replaces Chris Morris. KKR 3/2 1.4 overs: OUT! Knocked him over! Two in two for Mohammed Siraj. And what a perfect delivery that was from Siraj. Moved into the left-hander and hits the off stump of Nitish Rana. The stump goes flying. A perfect sight for a fast bowler. Rana departs for a first-ball duck. KKR 3/2 1.3 overs: OUT! Mohammed Siraj with the early breakthrough. Wicket for him in his first over. Soft dismissal for Rahul Tripathi as he guides the ball straight into the hands of AB de Villiers behind the stumps. Rahul departs for 1. KKR 3/1 End of 1st over: A tidy start from Chris Morris. Just 3 from his first over. Both Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi are off the mark. Mohammed Siraj to share the new ball with Morris from the other end. KKR 3/0 Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi are out in the middle to start the innings for Kolkata Knight Riders. Chris Morris has the new ball in hand for Royal Challengers Bangalore. A slip in place for Morris. Gill on strike. Here we go! Playing XI for both teams!

A look at the Playing XI for #KKRvRCB#Dream11IPL https://t.co/bhrXy6IX62

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Royal Challengers Bangalore: Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli(c), AB de Villiers(w), Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Washington Sundar, Chris Morris, Mohammed Siraj, Isuru Udana, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Tom Banton, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan(c), Dinesh Karthik(w), Rahul Tripathi, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy Captains at the toss Eoin Morgan: “We are gonna bat first. The wicket looks good. There’s been continuous improvement. Couple of changes. Banton and Prasidh come in instead of Mavi and Russell.” Virat Kohli: “We would have batted first. Looks like a good pitch, should be a good chase as long as we bowl well. We bowled them out cheaply in Sharjah. It’s all about how we exceute our plans. Siraj comes back. Shahbaz misses out.” Team news: A couple of changes for KKR. Tom Banton and Prasidh Krishna come in for Andre Russell and Shivam Mavi respectively. Mohammad Siraj replaces Shahbaz Ahmed in RCB XI Toss news: Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Eoin Morgan wins toss, opts to bat against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi. Pitch and ground report: “It’s a fresh pitch today in Abu Dhabi, as in Dubai – one of the square boundaries is short at 62m and 71 m, while the other side has boundaries sized at 74m and 80m respectively. Similarly, the straighter boundaries vary. One of the straight boundary is huge at 79m while the other straight boundary is the shortest of them all, at 59m. There should be appreciable bounce on this surface, especially with the new ball. There is an even covering of green grass, the surface is very hard as well. Nothing much in terms of spin on this wicket. They will have to use their guile, angles and mix things up to be successful here,” said JP Duminy and Daren Ganga. Players from both the teams are out in the middle, warming up ahead of the crucial encounter. We are just 15 minutes away from the toss. Hello and welcome to TimesofIndia.com’s live coverage of Match 39 of IPL 2020 between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi.

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England v Australia ODI preview: Key players, likely teams, odds and prediction

Tim Paine, Ricky Ponting and Justin Langer have a huge job on their hands (Picture: Getty)

With the 2019 Cricket World Cup set to start in less than a year’s time, England’s impressive one-day team have another chance to justify their favouritism for the tournament with a five-match series against Australia.

Under the guidance of Trevor Bayliss and Eoin Morgan, England have made huge strides in limited-overs cricket since the disastrous 2015 World Cup, where they were knocked out at the group stage.

They have won nine of their last 11 one-day series, most recently beating Australia and New Zealand after the Test team lost the Ashes.

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And it could be a familiar story this month as England face the Aussies in five ODIs in London, Cardiff, Nottingham, Durham and Manchester.

England are a settled team in superb form, putting their shock defeat to Scotland in Edinburgh to one side. Australia, on the other hand, have travelled without five of their biggest stars.

Steve Smith and David Warner are into the first two months of their 12-month bans for ball-tampering, while pace bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – so influential during the Ashes triumph – are out with injuries.

KEY PLAYERS

Jos Buttler

One of the most entertaining players in one-day cricket showed his versatility last month when he scored back-to-back Test fifties after being recalled to the England team for the two-match series against Pakistan.

The 27-year-old could be a perfect fit at number seven in the Test side but does not look more at home than when he is teeing off against the white ball.

Buttler enjoyed a stunning return at the 2018 Indian Premier League, scoring a record-equalling five consecutive fifties for Rajasthan Royals, and can tuck into an Australia attack that looks short of potency without Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.

Jos Buttler was one of the stars of the 2018 IPL (Picture: AP)

Aaron Finch

With Warner unlikely to play for Australia ever again after instigating the ball-tampering scandal that erupted in South Africa earlier in the year, even greater pressure has been placed on fellow opener Finch.

Unlike Buttler, the 31-year-old struggled to assert himself at the IPL for Kings XI Punjab, scoring just 134 runs in nine innings at an average of 17.

But he remains a class act and his ODI record – 3,200 runs at 38 apiece – suggests he can make up for lost time in England over the following month. He is sure to test an England side that will be without Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes for the first part of the series.

Aaron Finch is a destructive and consistent opener (Picture: Getty)

Liam Plunkett

Yorkshire’s strapping fast bowler is finally getting the recognition his performances deserve after being overlooked and undervalued for many years.

On the back of his first IPL – he was picked up at the auction by Delhi Daredevils – Plunkett will return to the England team full of confidence and can make up for the absence of Stokes and Woakes, who are both struggling with muscular injuries.

Despite often bowling in the powerplays, Plunkett’s economy rate against Australia is less than six. He is also more than capable with the bat and memorably hit a six off the final ball to tie a ODI against Sri Lanka in 2016.

Liam Plunkett rarely lets England down (Picture: Getty)

Andrew Tye

Losing your stand-out bowler is a blow, to lose all three is catastrophic. But that’s the situation that faces Australia this month.

If the tourists have any hope of causing an upset against England, the favourites for the 2019 World Cup, then they will be reliant on a productive series for AJ Tye.

Placing such pressure on a 31-year-old with just four one-day international appearances behind him may seem desperate but Tye is a cricketer in the form of his life.

Impressing over the winter in Australia’s Big Bash League, Tye was offered his first IPL contract earlier in the year and was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps in 14 matches.

AJ Tye made the most of his chance at the IPL (Picture: Getty)

WHAT’S BEEN SAID?

Australia captain Tim Paine

The thing we have spoken about is the difference between abuse and banter. I am sure you are going to hear us talking through the stump mic.

There is no doubt our reputation took a bit of a battering. That was difficult for the players to come to terms with.

England skipper Eoin Morgan

We have to continue to learn as we go along. Twelve months is a very long time in the game, and things can change, particularly as younger teams come in and develop.

We saw that with Pakistan in last year’s Champions Trophy. So it’s important for us to keep driving things forward.

England suffered a shock defeat to Scotland on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

Australia head coach Justin Langer

We have to make sure our behaviour is good on and off the field, that there is an environment for our good young blokes to thrive and become as good as players and people as they can.

There is a difference between banter and abuse. Abuse is no good – there is no room for it anywhere.

But there is plenty of room for banter or what we call sledging. It’s part of the game, a fun part of the game.

Former England international James Taylor

England are the most entertaining team in the world to watch, for me.

They’ve got some incredibly skilled batsmen that are gaining experience all the time.

It’s their format at the minute – they are very dominant around the world and I expect them to be dominant in this series.

LIKELY TEAMS

England (without injured Stokes and Woakes): Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Alex Hales, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Tom Curran, David Willey

Australia: Aaron Finch, D’Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c&wk), Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Andrew Tye, Kane Richardson

England v Australia odds

England 2/7

Australia 9/4

PREDICTION

Defeating this England team would be a tough ask for a side with all of its star players available, so it would be hugely surprising if Australia won their first series since the ball-tampering scandal without the help of Smith, Warner, Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.

Australia’s best hope is that England are unable to find their most devastating form in a first ODI series in over three months, as happened on Sunday as they were beaten by the Scots. But that appears unlikely.

The home side possess a quality team and most players are in fine nick. For England, this series can act as another reminder of their ability ahead of the 2019 World Cup.

Prediction: 4-1

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MORE: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals how India plan to stop England star Jos Buttler

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Life with a pink ball: Fortunes could swing in a matter of hours - cricket

It will be a journey into uncharted territory for both India and Bangladesh in the pink-ball Test starting on Friday. How the SG pink ball will behave at various stages of the game on its debut is a mystery that will unfold at Eden Gardens from Friday. It is the first day-night Test in India. At best, the players’ preparations are based on the results and patterns of play in day-night Tests around the world.In fact, for the first time an international match is being played with a ball that has not been properly tested in a game at any level.Bangladesh won’t mind this. They are in a nothing-to-lose situation. In normal circumstances, they would have stood little chance against the might of Virat Kohli’s side, on a roll after 11 home series wins on the trot. Also Watch | From factory to field: Journey of the pink ballNow, the visitors go in with an outside chance, hoping that an inspired effort from one individual can tilt the scales in their favour.ALSO READ: Virat Kohli 32 runs away from scripting history at Eden GardensTo ensure the pink ball does not get scuffed up early, pitches for day-night games have extra grass. The bowler is also expected to get extra movement under the lights with the breeze blowing from the Hooghly. Any pacer will be a handful, leave alone the ones with good skills. In favourable conditions, it’s about pitching the ball in the right area and conditions will make it dance. In other words, the game could well end up as a lottery; fortunes may depend heavily on which part of the day you bat or bowl.It will be an entirely different experience bowling with an old ball in sunlight, running in with a new ball in twilight and then bowling in the night with the turf, and the ball, soaked in the dew. A couple of good hours of play could prove crucial.GURBANI SPECIALIn such a scenario, one stand-out bowling performance can be decisive. One such effort during experiments with the pink ball (Kookaburra) came in the 2018 Duleep Trophy, when Vidarbha pacer Rajneesh Gurbani triggered India Green’s batting collapse, from 282/5 to 309 all out, with his brilliant nine-over spell givingIndia Red a 28-run lead. He captured 7/81, the best figures with pink ball in domestic cricket.“The new ball swings a lot. Initially for five to 10 overs there was swing on offer and I picked up wickets. Then again during sunset time I got help (movement) and picked up wickets,” says Gurbani, Man-of-the-Match for Vidarbha in the quarter-final, semi-final and final during their victorious 2017-18 season.Though there have been high-scoring games, the pressure is usually more on the batsmen. Tamil Nadu’s Baba Indrajith, the second Indian batsman to get a double hundred in a pink-ball match (Duleep Trophy, Sept 2017)—Cheteswar Pujara was the first—said: “Initially, when the ball is new, the ball swings more. But once it gets slightly older, it doesn’t swing as much as the red ball. Again during the evening when the breeze sets in, the ball starts to swing.”ALSO READ: ‘Looks good’:Ganguly happy with pitch & preparations for day-night TestIndrajith got another hundred in a pink-ball game, but both came against the Kookaburra. The SG ball is expected to afford more movement because it has a more pronounced seam. It will test the batsmen’s technique against swing bowling.Staying side-onFormer India skipper Dilip Vengsarkar, one of India’s most accomplished batsmen against the moving ball who hit three hundreds at Lord’s, advises: “It’s about staying side-on and not playing across the line. The batsmen shouldn’t look to play big shots, just look to drive and push when the ball is swinging. The shoulder shouldn’t open.”India and Bangladesh batsmen who have faced the ball so far in the nets have said the ball zips on pitching. That will test the batsmen’s footwork. Vengsarkar, who has been invited to watch the Eden Test and will be there for the first two days, said the batsman will have to be “extra alert” to deal with the extra pace.Unlike the day game where once the batsman gets his eye in, it is smooth sailing, to play a long innings in a day-nighter, one must be prepared for phases of play where they will be challenged more. Indrajith said: “The second new ball I faced was a bit challenging. Because of the gloss and sheen on the ball, under the lights it swings more than the red ball. Apart from that, during the evening even when the ball is not new, because of the conditions it might swing a bit,” he said.TIMING VITALIt will be about the timing of the day as teams will also have to bowl under the sun, with play scheduled to start at 1 pm. If in that phase the bowler is using an old ball, then he will be under pressure. Indrajith, who averages 50 plus in first-class cricket, said against the older ball, it gets easy. “Once it gets older, it is more like the white ball and doesn’t swing much. It is really hard and comes on to the bat very well. I didn’t curb any of my strokes.”ALSO READ: Virat Kohli posts nostalgic post about ‘partner in crime’ MS DhoniThe impact of spinners will depend a lot on which part of the day they are bowling. Gripping the ball will be a challenge when the ball gets soaked in the dew, but spinners could be potent in the twilight phase as a black seam on pink ball with a black sightscreen will make picking the seam a struggle for batsmen.“It’s about the basics. Not too many things are different but when you are playing wrist spinners it’s important you watch the ball closely because it is not easy to pick the seam and revolutions with the pink ball under lights. It was not very easy for me. I had to watch the hand even more closely.”Indrajith got a double hundred in that 2017 game, on his Duleep Trophy debut, but it was not as easy game for batsmen. He saw his India Red collapse to 159/7 against India Blue before launching a counter-attack to score a 280-ball 200. He shared a 178-run stand for the last wicket with Mumbai spinner Vijay Gohil, taking his team to 383.WET BALLAs seen in IPL and day-night one-day games, on nights when there is heavy dew, most teams, especially those with spin-heavy attacks, prefer to bowl first so that their bowlers have the advantage of using a dry ball, for better grip.“It’s about using the mud and towel well to keep the ball as dry as possible. Once a boundary is hit, the ball gets really wet. In our preparation, we practice a lot with the wet ball,” says former India leg-spinner Karn Sharma, the highest wicket-taker in the 2017 Duleep Trophy.“Wrist spinners are more effective because the seam shrinks after 35-40 overs and you can’t watch the seam clearly. But the SG ball seam is more upright compared to the Kookaburra. It will be a good Test match,” says Sharma.Spin ace Harbhajan Singh, in an interview to PTI, has explained that with extra lacquer, the pink ball’s surface won’t get as wet as the white ball, but the stitches will be very soggy, making it tough for finger spinners. With R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja both being finger spinners, it is a cause for worry for the hosts.For the pacers, Gurbani says, bowling with the wet ball will require a change in strategy as well. “When there is dew, the bowler won’t get help. You need to show creativity, bowl to a plan, bring out your variations, use change of pace, cutters, bouncers, change the angles, switch to over and around the wicket—that’s what I did during that spell.”  Source link Read the full article

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India vs New Zealand, 2017: 5 talking points | Ind vs NZ

Jasprit Bumrah took two wickets for nine runs in two overs. I wanted to bowl wider and on a back of a length. Yuzvendra Chahal personifies the term 'calm'! If MS Dhoni was worried about who would take over the tag of being an 'iceman', he would surely pick our humble & soft-spoken leggie. They were defending a total of 68 from eight overs against some of the most dangerous batsmen in the world.

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry's live coverage of India vs New Zealand 2017-18. Certainly there is a nice ring to India's current crop of bowlers. Members of Indian cricket team pose with the winners trophy after their win in their third Twenty20 international cricket match against New Zealand in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2017.This is India's first-ever T20 series win against new Zealand. Indian juggernaut continues to roll and yet another series victory for India at home, NZ will be feeling that the game got away from them.

The T20I series started with a win for India, but New Zealand leveled the series at Rajkot. This is the third and final T20I of the ongoing series and I, Kaustubh Mayekar, will bring to you all the live scores and updates from the match.The India-New Zealand series has ended, not surprisingly, shall I say, more exciting and entertaining than the India-Australia one. Thiruvananthapuram hosted the decider that was, once again, a close affair but the Indians held their nerve to take the series 2-1. In reply, New Zealand could manage 61/6 in eight overs. India vs New Zealand: Host bowlers' ability to hunt in packs makes them country's most potent attack ever. FOUR! Shikhar Dhawan finally connects one, giving Boult the charge and this time to the left of Sodhi at third man, good effort from him but he can't save it from reaching the boundary. The bowlers would find it difficult to control the ball as well. The third and final T20I between India and New Zealand is being broadcast Live on Star Sports Networks. The T20I series between India and New Zealand, which concluded 2-1 in favour of India, saw a bowling duo that was successful in both controlling the batsmen and in bamboozling them over after over. They fought well in both ODI and T20I series, and provided a stiff fight to India. Chief coach Ravi Shastri and opener Shikhar Dhawan visited the famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday ahead of the final T20I between India and New Zealand on Tuesday. Chahal: The wicket was suiting the bowlers, it was slow and it was spinning. I have bowled in such situations so many matches, especially in IPL, so I knew how to bowl in such conditions.

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Starting Summer Reading!

Last week was the start of the Summer Reading Program, one of the biggest events in most libraries’ calendars. Summer Reading Programs are used for a variety of purposes, from implementing new or different programming to assessing community needs and funding. As mentioned before, the IPL Summer Reading Program is the biggest summer reading program in the country in terms of sign-ups, but there are other metrics to judge programs by, like foot traffic, prizes rewarded, or circulation. Like other Summer Reading Programs (or SRP), this one has a theme: Read it and Eat, emphasizing food and nutrition to complement the reading and learning aspects of SRP.

Tuesday passed by without any exciting or noteworthy experiences; though the program is open to adults, we on the bookmobile want to target children for the sign-ups. The process has a couple of parts, as the kids sign up, get their point cards to keep track of their reading, and then get to pick out a prize and books. For the most part it went smoothly, although there were a couple of times where I was overwhelmed by kids. The Indianapolis Public School system’s last school day was on Thursday the 8th, so I am expecting even more kids over the next couple of days.

On Thursday I had two interactions, though, that really stood out, one positive and one negative. The first one, the positive one, happened at an apartment complex. Two patrons we saw had recently moved to Indianapolis to escape a difficult domestic situation. They were just new to the city (like a week or so) and did not have an official home address, so they were technically homeless. Because of this, we couldn’t sign them up for library cards, but we could let them borrow unprocessed books. We have books on the bookmobile that are called unprocessed and are not in the IPL system officially; we just have the material order. This is for patrons who do not have cards, particularly kids, as we want to serve patrons the best we can. Some of them cannot apply for cards for the reason stated above: they do not have a home address to prove they live in the area we serve. Others just don’t have permission from their parent or guardian because they don’t want to deal with fines. (Unprocessed books do not collect fines). We do not expect patrons to return the books, we just lend them on good faith.

The patrons were having a difficult time at the moment, as anyone would with a tough domestic situation. They were grateful for the books, though; one of them told me “books make me happy because they’re my escape, so I’m glad you guys came today.” This made my heart do the proverbial Grinch swell and reaffirmed my reasons for going into public, urban libraries. I want to help those in difficult situations and make my community better through books and literacy, and interactions like that validate my goals.

The second interaction was a bit more disheartening. This came at the end of the day at another apartment complex. It is one of our busier stops, made busier by the end of school. The kids swarmed the bookmobile and took me and the driver on unawares. Some of the kids were just genuinely excited and were looking for books, but some treated the bookmobile as a playground and got a little rough. One of the kids thought it would be fun to leap from a cement curb to the backdoor and back. Seeing that immediately rang my alarm bells, as I could see him fall and crack his head open on the concrete. I had to tell him once to stop jumping on the bookmobile. He would stop for about ten minutes and then start it up again. I did it once more before I had to get harsher with him and tell him that the bookmobile is not a playground and he needed to stop. He stopped and left immediately.

I felt bad about the situation almost instantly; through my modest interactions with children, I know that simply telling them to stop without giving reasons as to why you are implementing rules isn’t good disciplinary practice, but I still did it anyway. I chalk it up to cultural norms, since I was disciplined like that as a child and many others were as well. I felt myself getting sharper and more on edge during the stop as well, and it made me realize how quick I am to be harsh. I dislike that about myself, and I dislike that about working with children; you’re doing far more punishment than you would for an adult, and I really dislike punishing people. It’s not fun for anyone, and, as mentioned, I can get harsh and hard. I had teachers growing up that had gotten hard through years of teaching, and it was really disheartening and alienating as a child and young adult. I really don’t want to be like that, hence the reason why I don’t want to specifically work with children. A few interactions are good; making it entire work life all day every day, not so much.

So that was my first week with SRP. Hopefully with these notches under my belt I can take the next seven or so weeks in stride and learn more about myself and how to best discipline kids without alienating them.